Head & Shoulders shampoo is one of the most famous shampoos on the market. I believe we’ve all seen the commercials about Head & Shoulders as a number one anti-dandruff shampoo.
Probably, you even tried it, at least once, for treating dandruff, or for any other reason. But did you ever think “Is Head and Shoulders shampoo good?”.
This haircare brand promises that its shampoo gives you immunity from dandruff and promotes your scalp health. But, there is quite hot debate on whether its ingredients are safe or not. I decided to do my research to get the final answer to this questions: “Is Head and Shoulders safe?”.
Some people claim that Head & Shoulders products were effective and beneficial in their case, and helped them combat dandruff. And, if you are suffering from dandruff, you are probably already so annoyed with it, trying to get rid of it by all means.
On the other side, there are users who were unsatisfied, claiming that Head & Shoulders products ruined their hair health and that they caused them hair loss and hair thinning.
When you read about the hair loss, you were probably shocked. Right?
The truth is somewhere in between. If you are trying to find your perfect anti-dandruff shampoo, read this article to find out – is Head and Shoulders bad for your hair?
Most Popular Head And Shoulders Shampoos
There are many Head and Shoulders products on the market, all based on similar ingredients, with some small, minor differences according to hair type.
The most famous Head and Shoulders product is classic anti-dandruff shampoo. In fact, I believe this brand is immediately recognized for dandruff treatment.
Classic Clean Daily Shampoo from the Head and Shoulder brand represents a basic dandruff shampoo. It suits all hair types dealing with dandruff, so it is probably the reason why this shampoo is the most popular one.
It contains zinc pyrithione and zinc carbonate and selenium sulphate, that give you dandruff-free hair (and helps you prevent dandruff).
Probably, this shampoo is one of the most popular drugstore options in general. Whether you have straight, curly, or color-treated hair, you can use it.
Another popular Head and Shoulders type of shampoo is the Anti-Dandruff Shampoo Cool Menthol.
Head And Shoulders Anti Hair Fall Shampoo has recently become popular as it is thought to treat hair breakage. It works from the root level of hair follicles on your scalp, potentially resulting in less hair fall (which is one of the complaints over using Head and Shoulders shampoos).
For those struggling with dry scalp, Head And Shoulders Dry Scalp Care Shampoo is an interesting option. This 2in1 shampoo is infused with almond oil as an ingredient that is known to keep scalp healthy. However, its other ingredients are questionable…
Besides these shampoos, there are a lot of (quite popular) hair conditioners. This anti-dandruff and strengthening conditioners are recommended to be paired with shampoos.
Ingredients In Head And Shoulders Shampoo – Does It Contain Harmful Chemicals?
Most of the shampoos on the market, actually, contain some harsh chemicals.
Particularly, anti-dandruff shampoos contain detergents with some agents that are aimed to fight dandruff flakes.
Those include coal tar, zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, and selenium sulfide. Although these ingredients may help you relieve itching and decrease flaking, none of these can control dandruff completely.
Besides, Head & Shoulders shampoos contain several inactive ingredients.
Pyrithione Zinc & Selenium Sulfide – Good For Dandruff, But…
Head & Shoulders contains two main active ingredients: pyrithione zinc, and selenium sulfide which are considered as effective ingredients in controlling dandruff.
However, they have some side effects. Anti-dandruff agents and active ingredients of anti-dandruff products can be irritating both to the skin and eyes.
Zinc pyrithione, an active ingredient in Head & Shoulders, is known for its anti-dandruff properties.
Its antifungal and antimicrobial properties, as well as its ability to manage seborrhoea (an inflammatory condition that causes red and scaly scalp skin), make it a great dandruff treatment. While it is largely safe to use, it is one of the known skin irritants. It is also bad for the environment.
The second active ingredient in Head & Shoulders selenium sulphide may be able to prevent the fungal growth of dandruff-causing yeast. However, this ingredient has been known to cause excessive oiliness of the scalp. So, it may give you oily hair after use.
So, although Head & Shoulders products contains key ingredients that help you fight dandruff treatment, it still contains several harsh ingredients that may be harmful and essentially bad for your hair follicles and scalp.
SLES
It contains sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), from the group of detergents, that may cause scalp dryness, and eye irritation, and be a penetration enhancer. Some of the laureth compounds can be carcinogenic, as well.
SLS
Another harmful chemical is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), also a detergent and foaming agent. It is a very harsh cleansing agent, causing irritations and contact dermatitis.
Cocamide MEA
There is one more detergent used in Head & Shoulders shampoos, cocamide MEA. It can cause skin cells to become irritated and can lead to allergic reactions.
Dimethicone
Furthermore, Head & Shoulders shampoo contains dimethicone, used as a conditioner and film-former. However, dimethicone can irritate your skin.
Tetrasodium EDTA
Also, Head and Shoulders shampoo has tetrasodium EDTA – used as a preservative. Tetrasodium EDTA is a strong skin and eye irritant and may cause contact dermatitis.
Is Head & Shoulders Shampoo Bad For Your Hair?
Generally speaking, you may be just fine using Head & Shoulders, as there is no hard evidence that this shampoo is (that) bad for your hair.
And, in most cases, it will do more good than harm, if you suffer from dandruff, of course.
Head and Shoulders contains active ingredients that fight dandruff, and it’s okay to use it as a first-aid solution.
However, there are a few things to consider. If you use your Head & Shoulders without a suitable hair conditioner, it can remove some of the natural oils from your scalp. Natural oils are important, as they actually “look after” your hair follicles and protect your scalp.
While some people connect this shampoo with hair loss, the truth is, Head and Shoulders itself is not likely to cause hair loss. Rest assured. In that terms, it is not a bad shampoo.
And yes, due to all these chemicals, there are probably some, more natural alternatives. You probably want to avoid any harsh chemical you can. And yes, you can find a safe and effective shampoo for daily use, with more mild ingredients.
Can Head And Shoulders Shampoo Cause Hair Loss?
If you’ve read on hair loss forums or heard from some people that they experienced some hair loss (or some thinning hair) after using Head & Shoulders hair products, you may wonder: “Can Head & Shoulders cause hair loss? And what can possibly be responsible for hair fall in this case?”
The truth is, Head & Shoulders is not very likely to cause hair loss. In fact, one study revealed that pyrithione zinc may even be beneficial for hair growth1 – it may promote hair growth to some degree. So, no, it’s unlikely that this ingredients could contribute to hair loss.
However, high concentrations of selenium in some anti-dandruff shampoos is linked hair loss2. Studies have shown that it may weaken your hair follicles and cause breakage to your hair shaft3 – and be toxic to your hair, even leading to hair loss4.
However, the concentration of selenium sulfide in Head & Shoulders is not concerning, and is considered safe.
Furthermore, SLS, also in high concentrations, can cause hair loss through damaging hair follicles5. But, again, there’s no proof that the small concentration used in Head & Shoulders can cause hair loss directly.
Why People Say Head And Shoulders Causes Hair Thinning?
Some people who noticed thinning hair blamed Head & Shoulders for it. It is not sure what caused their hair thinning, or hair loss.
The truth is that there is no direct link, or strong evidence between using Head & Shoulders and hair loss.
Among other potential causes, excessive use of this shampoo may be a contributing factor to hair loss. The same goes with improper hair care, and skipping on hair conditioner.
But, the most likely reason for hair loss is… the dandruff and the inflammation in the hair follicles it is related to!
Dandruff causes itchiness leading to scratching. This in turn can cause damage in the hair follicles, resulting even in stopping hair growth, as well as weak and thin hair6!
Scalp infections due to dandruff will not grow hair as effectively. The hair follicle is weakened by reduced protein levels, which means the hair is more likely to thin and fall out.
Is Head And Shoulders Bad For Your Hair Everyday?
You shouldn’t use Head & Shoulders every day. In fact, no shampoo is advisable for everyday use. If you are dealing with dandruff, you may need to use Head and Shoulders often – but not every day. Around three times a week is reasonable7.
However, if you still have to use shampoo on a daily basis, opt for some sulfate-free shampoo, that doesn’t dry out your scalp (and doesn’t remove natural oils that protect your hair follicles).
Yes, the truth is that Head and Shoulders does include some chemicals which can be bad for your hair. However, the concentrations of it should render the shampoo safe to use.
Is Head And Shoulders Good For Curly Hair?
While your curly hair may benefit from some of the Head & Shoulders products, keep in mind that regular use of Head & Shoulders, and particularly sulfates in it, could leave your strands parched.
So, yes, you may want to avoid shampoos containing sulfates in general. That is because curly hair is naturally drier and sulfates dry it out even more8!
Furthermore, sodium chloride present in most Head & Shoulders hair products, may dry out your hair9. People with curly hair know that dryness is quite a concern. Right?
Rather try some hair care products intended for curly hair.
Is Head And Shoulders Safe For Sensitive Scalp?
As Head & Shoulders contains some questionable ingredients that are common irritants, it is not so safe to use on sensitive scalps.
There are milder shampoos with natural ingredients that will not irritate your scalp, or remove natural oils from it.
What Are The Side Effects Of Head And Shoulders Shampoo?
Side effects related to the use of Head and Shoulders are simply side effects of the particular ingredients.
As this shampoo does contain some harsh ingredients, you may encounter some side effects.
You may get skin irritation, with redness, scratching, rash, and even blisters and flaking. However, these side effects are very rare.
Is Head And Shoulders Good For Your Hair?
Head and Shoulders is good for treating dandruff. It is a good shampoo for this particular issue. Otherwise not. So, if you don’t suffer from dandruff, rather choose regular shampoos.
Overall, the Head & Shoulders ingredients in the quantities present in this shampoo are not so bad for your hair. These concentrations are still quite low. However, some of them may be causing dryness. This is especially true for sulfates.
Therefore, it’s important to use a conditioner afterward to avoid any potential damage, breakage, and dryness.
However, there are sulfate-free and paraben-free lines, so you may try out those.
Is Dandruff Shampoo Bad For Your Hair In General?
If you are suffering from dandruff, you will surely benefit from anti-dandruff shampoos. However, if this is not an issue, there is no evidence that it is good or bad for your hair.
However, if you are (for any reason) worried about using anti-dandruff shampoos, you may try out some natural ways to get rid of it.
Dandruff is caused by a fungus, so you will probably want to fight the cause. To get rid of the fungal infection, you may need to take some dietary changes, including cutting out sugar and yeasty foods.
It is also advisable take supplements with B-complex and probiotics (Acidophilous and Bifidobacterium), and drink plenty of water each day.
You may also apply essential oils of tea tree10, rosemary and thyme, apple cider vinegar or aloe vera, topically.
You can try this home remedies for dandruff with or without using Head & Shoulders (or any other dandruff shampoo).
I know this is quite an annoying issue, but there are solutions!
The purpose of this article is informative and entertaining. It’s not a substitute for medical consultation or medical care. The author of this article does not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here. Safety should be your priority. This article contains affiliate links.
Resources:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
- https://www.jidonline.org/
- https://jamanetwork.com/
- https://www.hairguard.com/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/
- https://uhs.umich.edu/dandruff/
- https://thepositive.co/
- https://wildnaturals.com/
- https://www.healthline.com/
